A small group of the Trane Company employees of
La Crosse, Wisconsin, began a labor movement in 1933. The
original group became affiliated with the American Federation
of Labor and was known as the Cliffwood Federal Labor
Union, Local 18558. Although "Cliffwood" was dropped from
the title, the organization continued to be known as
F. L. U. 18558. Major accomplishments under the local
organization included the right to act as the bargaining
agent for the production and maintenance workers, a union
shop, wage increases, fringe benefits, and a pension program.
In 1958 the local body voted to join the International
Association of Machinists. It became Lodge 21, of the
I. A. M.
The sources used for this paper include official union
records, letters from the union files, questionnaires to
early union members and local newspapers. The paper is not
meant to be an exhaustive study, but rather to record the
major achievements of the union.